“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9(ESV).
I was born in a small asbestos mining town called Thetford Mines, Quebec. My mother was Catholic, and my father was Anglican. My mother sometimes resembled her mother, displaying a very hardened heart. My father was an easygoing alcoholic who loved to party. We were not wealthy, so he repaired broken items and fabricated what we could not afford to buy. He was determined to be number one in everything he did.
As a young child, I looked up to my father. When I reached the “ripe old age of 7 or 8,” I spent as much time as possible with him when he wasn’t working. During this period, my father began to proudly show me off to his friends, telling them how proud he was of me. He taught me many things, including how to target shoot with a gun, and even allowed me to carry my own gun during hunting trips. After a day of hunting, we often hung out at the bar; I would enjoy a soda while he indulged in his usual alcoholic drinks. He also taught me how to drive a manual(shift) car in case he could not drive home afterward. Our adventures together were thrilling, and I loved, adored, and elevated my dad to the status of a “god” despite his rebellious nature and lack of moral integrity. He was prideful, deceptive, stole from others, and unfaithful to my mother until his passing in 1994.
As time progressed, his rebellious and prideful tendencies influenced me. My goal was to be number one in everything I did—work, friendships, and marriage. Pride makes us feel invincible; as we receive praise, we grow more feathers.
I married my “bride” in 1988, but I quickly became not only angry but also a reflection of my father. By 1995, I was unfaithful, which led to a separation from my wife. Shortly thereafter, she was invited to attend a Pentecostal church, where she surrendered her life to Christ and was water-baptized. Unbeknownst to me, she began praying for me daily. As she was on a staircase toward Heaven, I found myself descending a staircase into Satan’s pit, one step at a time. Sin may seem enjoyable for a while, but it carries significant consequences.
After a year and a half apart, we reconciled, but I remained the same old me. By God’s grace, my wife loved me enough to forgive me, and I also loved her. Fast forward to 2010, our marriage was again on the brink of disaster. My wife presented me with a choice: change or leave. That was a serious ultimatum. Shortly after, I reached out to a good friend who was a pastor. We met several times, and he categorically stated, “I will not tell you what to do that you don’t already know.”
He invited me to a Christian men’s group he was part of, and I agreed to attend. After a few weeks, I felt Jesus take hold of me. I heard Him say, “There are no more steps; if you wish, turn and follow me up this staircase, one step at a time.” And so, I followed Him, hand in hand. That evening marked a great miracle in my life. When I entered our home, my wife saw a different man standing before her—her words, not mine. I knelt beside her and said, “Tonight, I realized I have a covenant with God and with you,” a covenant I had never fully understood before.
Shortly thereafter, we sought Christian counselling, where God spoke to me through the Counsellor. I learned that my wounds stemmed from worshiping the wrong god—my father. I was like a newborn carrying a backpack full of wounds, which I needed to shed with God’s help. Thus, a new journey began for both of us, leading to a winter honeymoon that continues to this day.
The Holy Spirit began to convict me profoundly; the first conviction shook me to my core, leaving me cold and nauseous. I immediately understood why it was happening and knew I had to correct the issue without delay. A year later, I faced another conviction. Just before we were set to leave for a winter trip south, I felt the Spirit urging us to cancel our plans. We did, and soon after, we joined a 26-week discipleship course at church. I recognized that the course was essential for addressing my pride, anger, patience, offence, and so much more. Praise God, my backpack started to shrink.
Reflecting on who I was and what God has accomplished in my life fills me with gratitude. I did not deserve His grace, but my God is remarkably loving and forgiving. I have always been adventurous, doing things that most men don’t attempt, some of which I’m not proud of. I know now that God in Heaven had angels watching over me, as I should not be here today. I thank God for all the protection I received.
As I write this testimony, tears stream down my face. I am incredibly grateful. I thank my wife for walking on eggshells for 24 years, for her unwavering love, prayers, and refusal to give up on me.
Thank you, Jesus!
